Photo by Justine Sanderson Summer Fishing
Summer Fishing Best Bets
By CAM Staff Summer Fishing
It’s the heart of summer, and vacation season is in full swing. The following are a few best bets for those who prefer to spend their vacation time on the water with a rod in hand.
On the Gulf Coast, there are countless opportunities to get in on some hot summer action. Whether you prefer bluewater or inshore marshes, you can find it going on somewhere.
• Texas kings: By this time of year, the kingfish have arrived and are thick off Texas. Trolling heavy tackle brings up the big 50-pound smokers, and just outside the passes kings weighing up to 20 pounds will be herding baitfish.
• Louisiana Redfish: While inshore summer fishing may slow down for many areas in the heat of summer, marshes from New Orleans to Venice, La. will be full of hungry reds.
• The Rigs: Now is one of the best times of year to visit the oilrigs off Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for cobia, kingfish and snapper. Running out to the bluewater will offer shots marlin, swordfish and yellowfin tuna.
Moving east into Florida, the “The Fishing Capital of The World,” action abounds during the warmest months of the year. Charter boats book up well ahead of time, so make plans early.
• Bottom Fishing: From the panhandle to southwest Florida, nearshore and offshore reefs and wrecks are teeming with fish. Although the federal season was prohibitively short, the Gulf red snapper season in Florida waters out to 9 miles remain open until July 10. There are also other species of snapper and grouper to target.
• Keys dolphin: Fishing for anything is likely to be good year-round in the keys, but right now is the heart of dolphin season. And if you’re headed out looking for mahi-mahi, you should probably pull some bigger baits on the way for wahoo.
• Bahamas medley: Bonefish, reef species, dolphin, tuna, blue marlin, pretty much everything except the famed wahoo run will be going on in the Bahamas.
• Beach and pier: For those who’d rather keep their feet on terra firma, fishing from beaches or piers is a great option, especially in the cooler mornings and evenings. Snook, redfish, shark, tarpon, mackerel, jack and snapper will all be chasing baitfish close to the shore this time of year.
Up our country’s east coast, the Atlantic offers a ton of opportunity for solid summertime bites. From Georgia up into New England, anglers shouldn’t have a problem finding something to get into.
• Big Dogs of South Carolina: Off destinations like Hilton Head, 100-pound tarpon and big sharks will be feeding in the sounds.
• Hatteras whites: You’ll see boats flying multiple release flags this time of year around the North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The white marlin action should be full tilt in the warm water eddies off the Gulf Stream.
• New England stripes: Striped bass will be moving up the coast, and even shore anglers can catch them this time of year as they swarm in numbers in the inlets, bays and off the beaches.
These are just a few ideas to get the juices flowing. No matter where you end up vacationing, there will be a local guide catching something. Give them a call to ask what’s biting.
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